Johannesburg skyline at dusk with data-signal overlays
30 Sep – 03 Oct 2026
Maropeng · Cradle of Humankind

AI Festival
of Ideas
& Expo 2026

"AI for Inclusive Growth, Innovation & African Transformation"

Africa's premier platform for artificial intelligence innovation, investment, policy dialogue and enterprise transformation — bringing together global technology leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators for a high-impact marketplace of ideas, capital and strategic partnerships.

Venue · Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind

Reel
Maropeng — Tumulus building entrance walkway
Maropeng — aerial view of the visitor centre
Maropeng — Tumulus rooftop deck from above
Maropeng — visitor centre in the Cradle of Humankind landscape
Maropeng — Tumulus mound with Magaliesberg hills beyond
Maropeng — Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site foyer
Maropeng — 'Discover yourself' skull X-ray exhibition wall
Maropeng — Tumulus entrance canopy at dusk
Maropeng — hominid fossil casts on display
Maropeng — close-up of an ancient hominid skull cast
Maropeng — fossil gallery with lit display cases
Maropeng — underground boat ride cavern with coloured lighting
Maropeng — welcome monoliths silhouetted at sunset
Maropeng — grassland boardwalk with Magaliesberg hills at dawn
Maropeng — welcome monoliths at the site entrance
Maropeng — 'Birth of the Cradle of Humankind' exhibition hall
Maropeng — 'The First Ones' suspended sculpture exhibition gallery
Maropeng — visitors at the faces of humanity portrait wall
Maropeng — illuminated timeline panels tracing life on Earth
Sterkfontein Caves — lit stairway into the cavern
Sterkfontein Caves — natural shaft of light in the chamber
Maropeng — fine dining at the Tumulus restaurant
Maropeng — welcome monoliths glowing at dusk
Maropeng — 'Birth of the Cradle of Humankind' interactive exhibition floor
Maropeng — Tumulus building entrance walkway
Maropeng — aerial view of the visitor centre
Maropeng — Tumulus rooftop deck from above
Maropeng — visitor centre in the Cradle of Humankind landscape
Maropeng — Tumulus mound with Magaliesberg hills beyond
Maropeng — Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site foyer
Maropeng — 'Discover yourself' skull X-ray exhibition wall
Maropeng — Tumulus entrance canopy at dusk
Maropeng — hominid fossil casts on display
Maropeng — close-up of an ancient hominid skull cast
Maropeng — fossil gallery with lit display cases
Maropeng — underground boat ride cavern with coloured lighting
Maropeng — welcome monoliths silhouetted at sunset
Maropeng — grassland boardwalk with Magaliesberg hills at dawn
Maropeng — welcome monoliths at the site entrance
Maropeng — 'Birth of the Cradle of Humankind' exhibition hall
Maropeng — 'The First Ones' suspended sculpture exhibition gallery
Maropeng — visitors at the faces of humanity portrait wall
Maropeng — illuminated timeline panels tracing life on Earth
Sterkfontein Caves — lit stairway into the cavern
Sterkfontein Caves — natural shaft of light in the chamber
Maropeng — fine dining at the Tumulus restaurant
Maropeng — welcome monoliths glowing at dusk
Maropeng — 'Birth of the Cradle of Humankind' interactive exhibition floor

Launch Sequence

Date to be announced
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Delegates
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Days

Summit Pillars

Four programmes. One continental agenda.

01

Policy Conference

Continental frameworks for AI governance, ethics and sovereign data.

02

AI Product Expo

250+ exhibitors demonstrating the products powering Africa's next decade.

03

Startup Showcase

Africa's most investable AI startups pitching to a global capital audience.

04

AI Bootcamp

Youth skills programme placing 2,000 learners on the frontier of applied AI.

Four-Day Programme

A continental agenda, day by day.

Culminating in the Maropeng Declaration on AI and African Transformation — consolidating commitments across policy, investment, skills, research and governance.

30 Sep 2026
Day 1
Africa AI Investment Forum

Policy, Investment & National AI Strategy

Position South Africa and Gauteng as Africa's leading AI investment destination.

  • Opening Ceremony & Keynote: AI and Africa's Economic Future
  • National AI Policy & Regulation — Draft Policy Recommendations
  • Funding AI Innovation — announcing the African AI Growth Fund
  • Public-Private Partnerships for AI Infrastructure
  • Startup Pitch Finals · Investor & VIP Cocktail
1 Oct 2026
Day 2
AI Impact Showcase

Industry Transformation & Real-World AI

Demonstrate how AI is solving real business and societal problems today.

  • AI & the Intelligent Enterprise — mining, logistics, retail, telco
  • AI in Healthcare — diagnostics, surveillance, rural access
  • AI in Education — personalised learning coalition
  • AI in Agriculture & Climate Resilience
  • AI in Government, Finance & Banking · Corporate Roundtables
2 Oct 2026
Day 3
National AI Careers Fair

Talent, Skills & Future Workforce

Build Africa's AI talent pipeline and ensure inclusive participation.

  • Future of Work & the AI Talent Dividend
  • University-Industry Research Nexus — African AI Research Consortium
  • Women in AI Leadership Forum
  • Youth Entrepreneurship & Startup Ecosystem
  • AI Hackathon Showcase · AI Excellence Awards
3 Oct 2026
Day 4
Adoption of the Maropeng Declaration

AI, Democracy, Governance & Trust

Africa's leading platform on trustworthy AI, democratic governance and electoral integrity.

  • AI & the Future of Local Governance
  • African Democracy in the AI Era
  • Deepfakes & Electoral Integrity — rapid response frameworks
  • Ubuntu, Civic Participation & AI Ethics
  • Media, Journalism & Electoral Integrity Forum

Key Themes

01AI & Economic Growth
02Public Policy & Regulation
03AI in Business & Industry
04Startups & Innovation Ecosystems
05Future of Work & Skills Development
06Ethical AI & Governance

Sectors of Focus

Every industry Africa is rebuilding with intelligence.

SectorAI & Innovation
SectorGovernment & Policy
SectorMining
SectorHealthcare
SectorEducation
SectorAgriculture
SectorTourism
SectorBanking & Fintech
SectorRetail & E-Commerce
SectorLegal Technology
SectorEntrepreneurship
SectorCybersecurity
SectorCreative Industries
SectorJob Creation

Keynote Voices

The people shaping the agenda.

Malebo Phage — CEO, AAIM · Editor-in-Chief & AI Expert

Malebo Phage

CEO, AAIM · Editor-in-Chief & AI Expert

Duard Botha — AI Educator & Tech Author

Duard Botha

AI Educator & Tech Author

Charley Nkadimeng — CEO, Linkage SA Group · Policy Strategist

Charley Nkadimeng

CEO, Linkage SA Group · Policy Strategist

Phindile Ranuga — Executive Director, Analytikus Group · 18+ Years ICT

Phindile Ranuga

Executive Director, Analytikus Group · 18+ Years ICT

Who's Coming

150 organisations. One continental stage.

Founding Partners & Sponsors

Microsoft AfricaAWSGoogleIBMOracleNVIDIADellHuaweiCiscoLenovoTelkomVodacomMTNBCXLiquidTeracoVumatelDark Fibre AfricaSEACOMNokiaStandard BankAbsaFNBNedbankCapitecOld MutualSanlamDiscoveryMomentumJSEAnglo AmericanSibanye-StillwaterHarmony GoldSasolEskomTransnetExxaroGlencoreAngloGold AshantiShopritePick n PayWoolworthsNaspersTakealotSABTiger BrandsInstaDeepDataProphetAeroboticsZindiLelapa AIYocohearXCognityUNDP AfricaWorld BankAfrican UnionSmart AfricaGIZLinux Foundation AINetcareMediclinicAspen PharmacareDiscovery HealthWitsUCTStellenboschUPAlphaCodeKnife CapitalALX AfricaHyperionDevMicrosoft AfricaAWSGoogleIBMOracleNVIDIADellHuaweiCiscoLenovoTelkomVodacomMTNBCXLiquidTeracoVumatelDark Fibre AfricaSEACOMNokiaStandard BankAbsaFNBNedbankCapitecOld MutualSanlamDiscoveryMomentumJSEAnglo AmericanSibanye-StillwaterHarmony GoldSasolEskomTransnetExxaroGlencoreAngloGold AshantiShopritePick n PayWoolworthsNaspersTakealotSABTiger BrandsInstaDeepDataProphetAeroboticsZindiLelapa AIYocohearXCognityUNDP AfricaWorld BankAfrican UnionSmart AfricaGIZLinux Foundation AINetcareMediclinicAspen PharmacareDiscovery HealthWitsUCTStellenboschUPAlphaCodeKnife CapitalALX AfricaHyperionDev

Latest Intelligence

From the newsroom.

Register

Take your place in the continent's defining AI moment.

Delegate

Full three-day access to conferences, expo and networking.

Startup

Apply to pitch and exhibit in the Startup Showcase.

Sponsor

Category partnerships and executive activations.

Media

Accreditation for journalists and content creators.

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